Method and system for manufacturing a wig head shell

Abstract

An object head is prepared by placing a plurality of markers on the object head at a location where a wig is needed. A digital stereoscopic camera acquires a plurality of images of the object head at the location where the wig is needed from a plurality of different positions. Each of the images contains at least three of the markers on the object head. The digital image files are transferred from the camera to a digital processing device and the images are combined (stitched, sewn) in the digital processing device, where a three-dimensional digital model of the object head is generated. The wig head shell is manufactured from the three-dimensional model, for example by way of a 3D printer or by manual forming of a plaster model.

1 . A method of manufacturing a wig head shell, the method comprising:
 placing a plurality of markers on an object head at a location where a wig is needed;   providing a digital stereoscopic camera and acquiring a plurality of images of the object head at the location where the wig is needed from a plurality of different positions of the camera relative to the object head, each of the plurality of images containing at least three of the markers placed on the object head;   transferring digital image files of the plurality of images from the camera to a digital processing device and, in the digital processing device, combining the plurality of images to form a single three-dimensional digital model of the object head at the location where the wig is needed; and   manufacturing the head shell of the portion of the object head where the wig is needed according to the three-dimensional digital model.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the markers are uniform markers having a known geometry and known dimensions. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the markers are stickers with an adhesive back and a front carrying an image of a circular spot surrounded by a circular round frame, the spot and the frame have a stark visual contrast relative to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to the step of manufacturing the head shell according to the three-dimensional digital model:
 modifying the three-dimensional data, performing three dimension modeling according to the modified three-dimensional data, and deleting redundant data.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the step of modifying the three-dimensional data comprises:
 performing at least one of the following processes on the three-dimensional data: hole filling, sampling compression, data smoothing, noise elimination, eliminating difference between layers, adjusting a coordinate system, data editing, and surface smoothing.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of manufacturing the head shell comprises:
 acquiring a head model according to the three-dimensional digital model, and manufacturing the head shell according to the head model; and   wherein the head model is a model selected from the group consisting of a plastic model, plaster model, a paraffin model, a metal model, a graphite model, and a wooden model.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of manufacturing the head shell comprises transmitting digital data representing the three-dimensional digital model to a 3D printer and building a head model with the 3D printer. 
     
     
         8 . A system for manufacturing a wig head shell, comprising:
 a stereoscopic camera having two lenses aligned with relatively converging optical axes;   a multiplicity of markers being stickers with a front surface carrying a visually recognizable item and an adhesive back for sticking the marker to a portion of an object head where a wig is needed;   a data processing device connected to said stereoscopic camera, said data processing device being configured to:
 receive a plurality of digital image files from the stereoscopic camera; 
 combine the digital image files and process the image files to generate therefrom a three-dimensional digital model of the object head at a location where the wig is needed; and 
   a 3D printer connected to receive digital information from said data processing device and configured to build the head shell from the three-dimensional digital model of the object head.   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 said data processing device is further configured to modify the three-dimensional data, perform three dimension modeling according to modified three-dimensional data, and delete redundant data; and   said data processing device is configured to perform at least one of the following processes on the three-dimensional data:   hole filling, sampling compression, data smoothing, noise elimination, eliminating difference between layers, adjusting a coordinate system, data editing, and surface smoothing.